The man visibly sighs at Zorahas' words.
"Yes, that is... baffling. I thought she simply tries to trick us but she actually knows more Darl Jubannich quotes than all of us combined and delivered a scathing critique of Hosetter's ideas by Alysande Benedict. Still, I've got to do the job I'm paid for and I'll let her attempt to smooth-talk my employer instead!"
Jacques' arrow hits a railing in front of a man, who raises his sword and utters a few arcane syllables, causing it to become rimed with frost, before exclaiming in exasperation:
"Look, I was trying to halt the bloodshed here but you leave me no choice!"
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"Wait a minute. You are getting paid for this retrieval?
It all starts to make sense now. We previously came across information that leads us to believe the Andoran nobility are the ones who actually precipitated this abduction.
The girl going missing has rallied the populace behind the reigning noble and elected mayor of the town, and allowed him to keep his position of authority without sacrificing the pretense of an election.
Now we find Galtans in Andoran territory, abducting a daughter of the nobility who is beloved of the common people.
This puts the final piece in the puzzle. This is why the mayor was meeting with the Eagle Knights, don't you see? It is certain now that the Knights will be waiting on whatever path you take to leave Anodoran. They will stop you, slaughter every last one of you (after all they can't leave you alive to talk), and then use the presence of Galtan mercenaries as a pretense to declare war on Galt.
It is diabolical! However, it is just the type of plan you would expect the nobility to use in their attempts to keep the populace under their thumb.
Let's stop this plan here and now. Take Zorahas' offer, leave Andoran by whatever means you can. If you don't have the girls with you, the Knights will have no reason to stop you. We can take the girl back and reveal this foul plot for the sham that it is."
The man listens to Jacques' tale with a mix of disgust and disbelief.
"A harrowing tale, but I'm interested to know where do you come into this? If you seem to imply that we are indirectly on the noble's payroll, then who is paying YOU to stop us?
I am afraid 20 gold won't cut it, mes amis. Minimum 50 and we're not even accounting for dealing with the poor Louis here, just recovering our expenses so far."
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Jacques will subtly try to signal to Criscius that negotiations are over and it is time to charge up the stairs.
In the meantime, he attempts to hold the man's attention.
"Our employers are interested in the wine trade and sent us up to investigate the political situation and possible business contacts.
The four of us have an adventuring background, so once we heard about the missing girl, we couldn't help but investigate.
Regardless, one way or another the girl is getting returned to her family. You keep negotiating as if you are speaking from a position of power, yet that is far from the truth.
This farce has gone on long enough. If you want us to pay you, we need to first know that the girl is unharmed. Bring her downstairs now."
Couldn't help but investigate, eh? Hard to believe that such types still exist in the Andoren plutocracy, but there you go. Perhaps you should come visit Galt someday, you'll like it!
The man sneers and pulls the rope, dragging into view an old rocking chair with a fair-featured woman in her thirties with curly black hair and a fashionable sky-blue Andoren dress, matching Thalia's description, tied to the chair around the waist. She is gagged with a handkerchief wrapped around her head but otherwise doesn't look visibly harmed.
"I said 50. No discounts. I won't be returning to Galt with a debt, might as well try my luck with you.
Can't tell you much about my employer except that he was a brown-haired man with a Taldan accent. I believe his plans involved handing the girl over to the Grey Gardeners in exchange for some favors with the Revolutionary Council, but I am not privy to the details. I'm sure you understand that people prefer to be discreet in such sensitive matters."
The man waves for his only yet-unwounded companion to recount the gold, then upon confirmation that the sum is right descends downstairs, still holding his enchanted sword unsheathed. The thug lifts the body of his slain comrade while the man helps the wounded one out.
"I'm glad that we came to an agreement. I am a man of honor, you see, and I give you my word that we won't be seen again in these parts. I now know better than to set foot into a capitalist country again."
With that, they retreat into dusk, leaving Thalia bound upstairs, but not before deliberately dropping a slip of paper on the floor.
This is a handwritten note in Common tongue, addressed to one Almant Enderios, instructing him when and how it's easiest to slip into the Andares house unnoticed, and describing this location as the one to hide Thalia until further notice. The note is written on a plain brown parchment, the other side of which bears a few strangely smelling stains.
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"I'd detect magic on that note before picking it up."
Jacques will head up the stairs and start untying Thalia, starting with the gag..
"Be easy, Mademoiselle. We are here to take you back to your father."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Zorahas does not detect any magical auras radiating from the note.
As you untie the girl, she exclaims: "Ah, thank you for staying your hand and settling this matter without resorting to murder! If only you could have spared poor Louis' life as well, he was quite kind to me and did not deserve death! Truly, the working class has forged far better qualities in their hardships than us, idle bourgeoisie!
Pray tell, how did you find out where I was held and who sent you to my rescue?"
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"Madamoiselle, we are Pathfinders. When our superiors learned of your predicament, they used magical scrying to determime your location and sent us to effect a rescue.
Naturally, our intent is not completely altruistic. We hope that one good deed will lead to another, and are hoping to recruit for the battles being waged in the north against the demonic hordes at the Worldwound.
Perhaps we might entreat upon you to put in a good word with your father and the Eagle Knights?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
When Thalia hears a mention of her father, her pretty face darkens. "Ah, I am loathe to disappoint you, but... I'm not sure if my words would have much weight with my father. Besides, he doesn't really command the Eagle Knights, you would perhaps better seek out Consul Sander Bryton for help on such matters."
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"Of course, but I thought your words might lend some weight to any entreaty we might make to Ser Bryton"
-Posted with Wayfinder
The wounds, while heavy, were not immediately fatal, and after the application of magical healing the man opens his eyes and sighs weakly. "I am at your mercy... Thank you for sparing my life."
The leader speaks to him: "Hold still, I'm getting us out of here. This was a bad idea in the first place." as they leave into the twilight.
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"This seems to have been easy. Before we go, let's check the room where they were holding the girl. Maybe there is useful information there."
Elemenar walks up the stairs and searches the area where Thalia was being held. From the top of the stairs Elemenar calls down to Zorahas, "Did you read that note yet?"
The upper floor of the building is almost completely ruined by the collapsed roof; the spot where Thalia was being held is a 10-foot-square opening among the debris. You don't find much of note there.
Thalia gives voice again, this time with a hint of imperiousness which she no doubt picked up from her father: "Well, Pathfinders? I am not sure that reporting back now would make your mission accomplished. Whoever orchestrated my kidnapping remains at large, and my freedom or perhaps life is still in danger until the culprit is dealt with. I implore you to help me find out who orchestrated this crime and bring him - or her - to lawful justice."
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Jacques will retrieve the note and read it.
"This note indicates the abductor was one Almant Enderios. So, I suppose we should attempt to track down this man.
We can return to town and ask the police captain."
Jacques will show the letter to Thalia.
"Lady, do you recognize this handwriting? We could alsi go after whomever hired Almant in the first place."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Ah, Almant was the name of the leader of Galtans who held me here. A charming rogue, though his revolutionary ideals were so outdated. He even went to town to buy me a copy of Lady Liberty essays for me! I think I started to persuade him with the benefits of the Common Rule before he decided to gag me."
Thalia inspects the note with a furrowed brow.
"You know what, the handwriting does look a bit familiar... Where could I have seen it before...
I think it was on some of the packages I delivered to my father, from the town's alchemy shop. How was it called... Koriana's tonics or something? Yes, that must be it - now that I said that name aloud I clearly remembered it was her who wrote these letters. I can show you the way to her shop if you'd like."
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"Follow the money. That is usually the way to get to the root of any situation.
Yes, let us proceed to this alchemy shop.
Lady Thalia, we should probably drop you some place safe. Is there a location you would trust to be safe at the present time?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Actually... I think I might be safest right here for now. If the kidnappers are based in town or have spies posted, they might realize their plan failed if they see me out on the streets. If you don't manage to get a lead by tomorrow, visit me here and I'll think about relocating. There's enough food left after you've chased off the Galtans and I've got a few more essays to finish.
Now, Koriana's shop is located at a place called Deadeye's Cross, a crossroad at the edge of town. She caters to the itinerant farmhands, but in this time of the year the area is a bit desolated. And since the guard patrols have been somewhat of a rarity recently, there have been attacks by bandits and wild animals in that area, so be careful."
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"Wonderful! Let's go immediately." Before leaving, Zorahas taps himself with his healing wand.
[dice=clw]1d8+1
Looks like Criscius could use a zap.
"Off to the crossroads, then."
Jacques flourishes his hat in an elaborate bow.
"Mademoiselle, we take our leave. Please stay aware that the Galtans were expecting someone.
If anyone other than us should approach the house, it might be best to hide.
Regardless, we shall see you again as soon as we are able."
Before leaving, Criscius notices a charred oak door under the stairs in the main hall, obscured by ash, dust, and lichen - looks like some small part of the building may have survived the devastation.
The door is neither trapped nor locked, and opens up into rough stairs descending and doubling back into a moldy and lightless cellar located roughly beneath the front porch.
Damp, moldy rafters barely hold up the ceiling of this 15-foot-square cellar, and already the supports sag under the weight of the earth above. The few remaining shelves and wine racks in this room are equally decayed but still support several dozen bottles of decades-old wine of good vintage.
A section in an earthen wall does not match the surrounding stratigraphy, as if it was dug out and then packed back in at some point. Digging into the wall uncovers a rough leather bag, holding a rusty iron lockbox.